Slide fastener



E. LUSTIG SLIDE FASTENER A ril 15, 1941.

//v///v 7-01? [yon 1.4/5 779 4/ Filed Dec. 6, 1938 Patented Apr. 15,1941' PATE T orries suns rasrnm Egon Lustig, Prague, Czechoslovakia,assignor-to A. J. Rosenstein, Avon, Conn,

Application December 6, 1938, Serial No. 244,269;

9 Claims.

My invention relates to slide fasteners.

It has among its objects to provide an improved slide fastener andfurther to provide such an improved fastener of the locking type whereby unintended opening movement of the slider 5, is prevented. A furtherobject of my invention is to provide such a fastener having improvedlocking means whereby, while obtaining an effective locking action, allnecessity for providing a series of indentations or looking projections10 along the side walls of the slider is eliminated in such .manner asmarkedly to simplify, and reduce the cost of, manufacture of the slider.A stillfurther object of my invention is to provide an improved slidercooperating in an improved l5- manner with the fastener elements carriedby the stringers, this improved slider having improved guiding meansdisposed inan improved manner to cooperate with the fastener elementsduring movement of the slider, and to maintain the slider locked againstunintended opening movement. Still another object of my invention is toprovide such' an improved slider having improved smooth guiding surfacesalong its edges, and cooperating in an improved manner with the fastenerelements and with improved guiding surfaces on the central wedge toproduce an improved construction operative to obtain an im-' provedlocking action while being. freely operative to open or close thefastener and also adapted to be readily produced at small expense.

' These and other objects and advantages of my improved constructionwill, however, herein.-

aiter more fully appear.

In-the accompanying drawing, Lhaveshown "for purposes of illustration,two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice. Inthedrawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fastener I equipped with oneform of my improvement, the '40 slider being shown in unlockedpositionready to be movedup or down to close or open the fastener:

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the slider in section,the top portion thereof being removed to facilitate illustration, andthe parts being shown in locking position; a a

Fig. 3 is a detailed side elevation of the slider showninFigure 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view on line 44 of Figurel, of theslider, and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure-2 showing a modifiedconstruction.

-Referringflrst to the'construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, it will benoted that I have shown a plurality of stringers l carrying cooperatingfastener elements 2 of usual construction; the

' connection and disconnection of these elements 2 being controlled by aslider, generally indicated at 3, and of improved constructionhereinafter more fully described. A I This slider is, in certainrespects, of usual 'construction. Thus, as in usual practice, itcomprises back and front elements 4 and i, preferably bent out of asingle piece of metal and having a connection 6 therebetween so thatthey are disposed in parallel relation with a space I therebetween,through which the cloth of the stringers I vextends in such manner as topermit movement of the slider 3. Further, as usual, the portions 4 and 5are connected together'by a riveted connection including a central guideor wedge 8 riveted at one end to the back slider portion 4 and having aconnected portion 8 on the outside of the front slider portion 5 towhich is'connected a pull member III of usual construction. Further,each of the portions 4 and 5 is provided with. spaced and parallel,straight inside walls H at the bottom of the slider and a portion abovethese straight walls ll extending upward and outward on opposite sidesof the central guide or wedge 8. In my improved construction, however,it will noted that each of the members 4 and 5 is provided-with improvedside walls I! which form a; continuation of the straight'walls ll, theseinner faces, thesewalls I! are herein curved outwardly and upwardly,and, .furthermore,'are smooth. More particularly, it will be observedthat from the,upper ends of thewalls II, the walls I2 are concave andcurve gradually outwardly and upwardly in an arc and in such manner thatthe upper end portion l3 of each wall I2, while curved slightly inwardlyis substantially parallel with the axis of the slider, herein indicatedby the line 4-4 of Figure 1-. As shown,

each end portion I3 is also of greater length than the depth, orthickness, of a fastener element as measured along the stringer and atransverse, and herein slightly downwardlyand outwardly, inclined,abutment I4 is provided at the upper end of each wall [2. Further, itwill be noted that the guiding member or wedge l is not disposed abovethis extremity i4 of these walls [2; the wedge member, instead, being sodisposed that its guiding surfaces It are wholly below the upper end ofthe surfaces I3. Here, preferably, these guiding surfaces I are alsocurved. the same in this form of my invention being convex and struckfrom the same axis as the curved walls I2 and portion I3 in such manneras to produce for each set of fastener elements a guiding passage havingconcentric walls.

In the use of my improved construction, it will be evident-that innormal closing and opening movements of the slider 3, the fastenerelements 2 will be connected and disconnected with facilityas the guide3. and walls I2 including their portions l3, of. the slider are moved upor down relative to the fastener elements 2. Attention is. however,directed to the fact that in these movements of the slider, the elements2 in passing between the guiding surfaces Iiiv on the guiding member 3and the guiding surfaces I2 on the portions 4 and 5 of the slider, willconform somewhat to the curvature of the surfaces I5, I2, and I3, 1. e.move outward and upward in the curved paths indicated. Thus, it will beobserved that, as shown in Figure 1, these fastener elements 2 which areopposite the upper portions I3 of the surfaces I2. will normally havetheir outer ends moving freely over these portions I3. Consequently, inmy improved construction the slider 3 will function to close or open thefastener elemerits in a satisfactory manner. However, it will beobserved that the upper end portions; I3 are enabled to cooperate withthe adjacent end surfaces of the fastener elements 2 in suchvmanner 'asto produce a wholly new and effective locking action when the upper endof either stringer is pulled laterally. More particularly, reference ishere made to Figure 2, and to the fastener elements 2 on the right handstringer element I which are below and above the top M of the sliderportion I3, attention being directed to the fact that when this stringerI is pulled slightly laterally as indicated, these elements 2 functionwith the portion I3 and upper face H on the slider, and with the wedgesurfaces I5, in an improved manner to effect locking. Thus, if the righthand stringer I is pulled even slightly to the-right, as shown in Figure2. in a manner which would result in an automatic downward or openingmovement of the slider in previous constructions, it will be noted that,herein, the outer end surface It of the element 2 just below the topface ll will betilted to the right in such manner as to engage theinside face of the portion I3, while, as a result of the tiltingmovement on the stringer I, the fastener elements 2 thereon below theportion I3 will be pressed inward into engagement with the adjacentwedge surface I5,

- all in such manner as thereby effectually to prevent automaticdownward movement ofthe slider 3. Further, it will be observed that theupper fastener element 2, i. e. that above the top face I, by reason ofthe lateral deflection of the stringer I previously mentioned. will alsobe so displaced laterally as to engage and laterally project over theupp r end face I4, this upper edge then forming a fulcrum about whichthe upper element 2 also tilts in such manner as further to increase theinwardly directed pressure v of the lower elements 2 against the wedgesurface Ii. Thus, lateral movement of the stringer I will cause wedgingof the portion I3 in the space between the two adjacent fastenerelements 2 and the portions I3 and I4 on the slider will so engagediflerent portions of the extremities of the two adjacent fastenerelements 2 and 50 press laterally thelower fastener elements 2 againstthe wedge surface I5, as efiectually to lock the slider againstaccidental movement as a result of lateral movement of either stringer.Referring next to the stringer I at the left in Figure 2, it will benoted that the fastener element 2 adjacent the portion I3 on the lefthand face I2 is a so tilted by the lateral movement of the stringer Iindicated, that the outer end I6 of this element 2 will also engage theportion I3 and thereby also force the lower elements 2 against the wedgesurface I5, in such manner as to exert a like locking action. Thus, theportions I3 on both sides of the axis of the slider cooperate ineffect-, ing locking.

It will, of course, also be evident that a locking action will beobtained on each side of the slider when the surfaces I6 are in any ofthe various possible positions between the extreme positionsillustrated, the extreme bottommost position on the portion I3 beingshown at the right-in Figure 2, and the extreme top position being shownat the left, wherein the surface I6 is just about to pass off of theportion I3. Thus, obviously, my improved construction, in addition toproviding effective locking, provides a relatively long efiectivelocking area or portion I3 at the top of each wall I2, all whileenabling all of the inside surfaces of wall I2, including the portion I3to be smooth from end to end and eliminating any necessity for the useof any indentations or irregularities. Further, itwill be evident thatwhen the parts are thus locked, the slider 3 may be moved downwardfreely whenever desired, and that, when the same is moved upward, theend portion I 4 will force any fastener element 2 which overlies thesame, out of its path and toward the axis of the slider until the partsassume the relation shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified construction wherein it will benoted that the principal difference is that the guide or wedge 8 islocated higher relative to the upper portion I3 on the surfaces I2, butstill below the upper ends of the latter. Further, it will be noted thatherein this portion 8 is somewhat smaller than the portion 8heretofore'described so that the elements 2 do not necessarily moveoutward in a curve so closely conforming to the surfaces I2.Nevertheless, it will be noted that by reason of the fact that theportions I3 are here also so inwardly directed and shaped as heretoforedescribed, generally. similar locking action is obtained; the endsurface IB of any element 2 immediately below the upper 'end surface 14being tilted in such manner as to force inward into engagement with thewedge surface I 5, the adjacent lower. elements 2 and thereby lock theslider, substantially as previously described. Further, it will beevident that the fastenereiement 2 above the tilted element 2 willsimilarly overlie and abut the upper edge portion II to produce awedging or'cramping locking action similar to that previously described.

While I have in this application specifically described .two embodimentswhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthe same are shown for purposes of illustration,

and that the invention may be modified and em- 'What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a slide fastener, a slider having outer guiding means includingdiverging portions. stringers having cooperating fastener -elementsthereon guided by said guiding means and also 7 having spaces betweenadjacent elements, and slider locking means for engaging and locking anelement when a stringer is pulledlaterally comprising a relativelyinwardly and upwardly directed prolongation on one of said divergingportions and extending above. the upper end of the latter and having onsaid prolongation an inner elongated guiding and locking surface atleast as long as the space between said elements and conforminggenerally to the normal path of the outer endgof adjacent elements inthe top of the slider.

2. In a slide fastener, a slider having outer guiding means includingdiverging portions, stringers having cooperating fastener elementsthereon guided by said guiding means and also having spaces betweenadjacent elements, and

slider locking means for engaging and locking an element when a stringeris pulled laterally coinprising relatively inwardly and upwardlydirected prolongations of said diverging portions and extending abovethe upper ends of the latter and having on said prolongations innerelongated guiding andlocking surfaces at least as long as the spacebetween-said elements and said elongated surfaces being generallyconcave and closer to one another at their upper ends than at'theirlower ends.

3. In a slide fastener, aslider having outer guiding means includingdiverging portions, stringers having cooperating fastener elementsthereon guided 'by said guiding means and also having spaces betweenadjacent elements, and slider locking means for engaging and locking anelement when a stringer is pulled laterally comprising a relativelyinwardly and upwardly directed prolongation on one of said divergingportions and extending above the. upper end of the latter and having onsaid prolongation an .in-

ner elongatedguiding and locking surface at least as long as the spacebetween said' elements 7 and conforming generally to the normal path ofthe outer ends of adjacent elements inthe top of the slider, thediverging portion carrying said prolongation being concave and saidelongated surface likewise being co cave and merging into andsubstantially ,conti ng the curvature of said diverging portions...

. 4. In a slide fastener, a slider having inner wedging means andcooperating outer guiding means, the latter including divergingportions, stringers relatively movable between said wedging meansand-outer. guiding means and having cooperating fastener elementsthereon, and means comprising relatively inwardly and up-' wardlydirected prolongations of said diverging .portlons and having on saidprolongations inner elongated guiding and locking. surfaces extendinginto the path of an element below the upper ex tremities of one of saidprolongations when i either stringer is pulled laterally, for tiltingsaid. element into locking engagement withone of said surfaces andpressing other still lower elements on the stringer into engagement withsaid wedging means. 4

5. In 'a slide fastener, a slider having outer guiding means includingstringers having fastener elements diverging portions;

thereon guided by said guiding'means and also having spaces betweenadjacent elements, and

slider locking means for engaging and locking an element when-a stringeris pulled laterally comelements, and slider locking means on the upperends of said diverging portions comprising relatively inwardly andupwardly directed prolongations of the latter normally guiding saidfastener elements and extending, when a stringer is pulled laterally,both into one of said spaces and into the path of the fastener elementbelow said space,

said prolongations having inner guiding surfaces approaching parallelismto one another and also having downwardlyand outwardlysloping topabutments cooperating with said guiding surfaces to form wedgesreceivable in said spaces when stringers are pulled laterally.

"I. In a'slide fastener, a slider having outer guiding means movablealong and controlling the connection of fastener elements spacedlongitudinally on flexible stringers, said slider having diverging outerguiding portions, and slider locking means on the upper end of one ofsaid diverging portions comprising a relatively inwardly and upwardlydirected prolongation of the latter and having on said prolongationan-inner elongated guidingand locking surface at least as long as thespace between said elements and conforming generally to the normal pathof the outer ends of adjacent elements in the top of theslider.

8. In a slide fastener, a slider having an inner wedge and coooperatingouter guiding means movable along and controlling the connection offastener elements spaced longitudinally on flexible stringers, saidslider having diverging outer guiding portions extending below said wede, and

slider locking means on the upper ends of said diverging portionscomprising relatively inwardly and upwardly directed prolongations ofthe latter extending above the bottom of said wedge and having on saidprolongations inner elongated guiding and locking surfaces at least aslong as the space between said. elements and said surfaces beinggenerally concave and closer together i at their upper ends than attheir lower ends.

9. In .a slide fastener, a slider having outer guiding means movablealong and controlling the connection of fastener elements spacedlongitu'dinally on flexible stringers, said sliderhaving diverging outerguiding portions, and slider locking means on theupper ends of saiddiverging portions comprising relatively inwardly and upwardly directedprolongations of the latter and "having on said prolongations innerelongated guiding andlocking surfaces spaced apart a distance slightlyless than the greatest distance between said outer guidin p rtions.

' I v v EGON LUSTIG.

